Patient's question:
What are the symptoms of prostatitis??Doctor's answer:
The symptoms of chronic prostatitis are diverse and do not correlate with the severity of inflammation. Some patients may have a large number of pus cells in their prostatic fluid but show no symptoms, while others may have normal or near-normal prostatic fluid test results but exhibit severe clinical symptoms. Common symptoms can be categorized into the following five types:(1) Urinary discomfort
This may include frequent urination, urethral burning pain, and pain that radiates to the head of the penis. In the morning, the urethral orifice may secrete mucus, mucus threads, and pus, leading to cloudy urine or a white discharge after defecation. In severe cases, it may cause terminal hematuria during urination, difficulty urinating, or urinary retention.
(2) Local symptoms
Discomfort, heavy pressure, or a sense of fullness in the posterior urethra, perineum, and anal area, which worsens when squatting or defecating.
(3) Radiating pain
The prostate and seminal vesicles are richly innervated by sympathetic nerves. When inflammation occurs, the internal tension of the glands increases, stimulating the sympathetic nerves and causing referred lower back pain. The pain can radiate to the penis, testicles, scrotum, groin, perineum, lower abdomen, thighs, buttocks, or rectum.
(4) Sexual dysfunction (disorder)
Chronic prostatitis can lead to reduced or lost libido, painful ejaculation, hematospermia, premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, nocturnal emissions, and infertility. Unmarried young men often exhibit nocturnal emissions, neurasthenia, and depression.
(5) Other symptoms
Chronic bacterial prostatitis may cause allergic reactions, such as iritis, arthritis, and neuritis. Chronic prostatitis can also lead to neurosis, characterized by fatigue, blurred vision, dizziness, insomnia, and depression.